VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #0290/01 0441703
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131703Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7827
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0526
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0512
RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 000290 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCRM BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST VIOLENT CRIME 
 
 
 Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1. (U) The February 5 murder of a youth by other juveniles on 
a Sarajevo tram has focused popular attention on the 
perception of a growing problem with violent juvenile crime 
in Bosnia.  The murder follows on the heels of other high 
profile crimes committed by minors including the deliberate 
immolation of an elderly Serb woman by Roma juveniles.  An 
apparently spontaneous demonstration of Sarajevo residence 
took place on February 9, demanding that Canton authorities 
take action to address the problem of youth violence. 
Protests continued on February 13 demanding the resignations 
of the Sarajevo Mayor and Canton Prime Minister.  This marks 
the first large scale civic action in Sarajevo recent memory 
and took place without organization by a political party. 
Some Serb and Croat political leaders have cynically 
attempted to characterize the attacks as ethnically based in 
order to demonstrate that minorities are still vulnerable in 
Sarajevo.  To date these assertions have not resonated with 
the general public, which has instead focused on the rule of 
law and the inadequacies of the juvenile justice system.  End 
Summary. 
 
Mrnjavac Murder 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On February 5 seventeen-year-old Sarajevo citizen 
Denis Mrnjavac was murdered on a full tram during the evening 
commute.  In a seemingly unprovoked attack Mrnjavac was 
beaten and stabbed by three high school students.  The third 
violent crime in Sarajevo over the past two months 
perpetrated by minors, Mrnjavac,s death has sparked 
widespread outrage and frustration over juvenile crime, lax 
juvenile criminal statutes and the lack of juvenile detention 
facilities. Cantonal and municipal authorities, as well as 
the judiciary, have faced harsh media criticism for their 
failure to adequately react to, and prevent, what the public 
perceives as a rise in juvenile crime. 
 
Sarajevo Protests 
----------------- 
 
¶3. (U) On Saturday February 9, thousands of citizens gathered 
in downtown Sarajevo to protest the murder of Mrnjavac, and 
the inadequacies of the juvenile court system.  The 
demonstration, which developed relatively spontaneously, came 
in response to calls by a radio station and several local 
NGOs, to sign a petition demanding that the Sarajevo Canton 
Government respond to juvenile delinquency. The petition 
evolved into a peaceful march, which press reports estimated 
at a few thousand participants, stopping traffic as it headed 
to the buildings of the Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecutor's 
Office, the Cantonal Court, the Cantonal Government building, 
and the Federation Presidency. 
 
¶4. (U) The protest happened in conjunction with an 
extraordinary session of the Sarajevo Cantonal Assembly, 
during which the cantonal Ministry of Interior officials 
discussed recent high profile crimes involving the youth 
population. Additional protests took place February 13, in 
which demonstrators reportedly demanded the resignations of 
the Sarajevo Mayor and Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister, 
because of their lack of initiative regarding crime 
prevention.  In an action that has generated widespread 
popular derision, state House of Representatives delegates 
voted for an early adjournment of the February 13 
parliamentary session in order to join the protests against 
the Canton and municipal governments. 
 
¶5. (U) The Federation Criminal Code currently contains no 
separate provisions for juvenile offenders, in effect 
exempting minors under sixteen from prosecution and 
imprisonment.  There are also no entity and state juvenile 
detention facilities.  Demonstrations emphasized these 
inadequacies and demanded the amendment of the criminal code, 
the establishment of a special prosecution system for minors, 
and the construction of a juvenile correction facility. 
 
Political Reactions 
------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Reactions to the protests by political leaders have 
been mixed. Federation Vice-President Mirsad Kebo (SDA), 
Presidency Chair Zeljko Komsic (SDP) and Sarajevo Cantonal 
Assembly Speaker Denis Zvizdic (SDA) took part in the 
rallies. Zvizdic stated that the Cantonal Assembly will 
initiate an amendment to current legislation demanding the 
establishment of a special department for juvenile crimes 
within the cantonal Prosecutor's Office. Federation House of 
Peoples Croat Caucus MP Lidija Bradara (HDZ) proposed that 
the Federation Parliament vote on a resolution that refers to 
the consequent actions in case of violence among hildren and 
youth, while also supporting the estblishment of a 
Prosecutor's Office for Juveniles nd other institutions that 
would aid in the re-scialization of convicted minors. 
Sarajevo Mayor Semiha Borovac claimed to have no legal 
authority over municipal security matters, and to be unable 
to address the protesters grievances. 
 
Ethnic Interests Attempt to Capitalize 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Certain media outlets have attempted to portray recent 
juvenile crimes in ethnic terms.   Croat outlets such as Nova 
TV have suggested that Mrnjavac, who was the son of a Croat 
woman, was attacked because of his ethnicity.  The January 22 
murder of 72-year old Sarajevo Serb Ljubica Spasojevic by a 
group of Roma minors similarly elicited a statement by SNSD 
party headquarters that the attack demonstrates that Serbs 
are not safe in Sarajevo.  To date, these unfortunate 
attempts to politicize the murders have not resonated with 
the general public, which has instead channeled its 
frustration towards government officials.  The protests in 
Sarajevo have been multi-ethnic and pan-generational. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The protests are significant as an unusual 
manifestation of public demands for the accountability of 
government officials.  The spontaneity of the demonstrations 
is also notable, as is the fact that they were not directed 
by, or used to advance, the agendas of political parties. 
These factors suggest that the protests are the expression of 
a groundswell of public frustration with law and order 
issues, and build upon a general perception of deterioration 
in basic services in Sarajevo.  Similar popular frustration 
erupted earlier this year in relation to Sarajevo,s 
organized crime problems, which resulted in a large-scale 
roundup of mafia bosses.  It is encouraging that most 
citizens, in the Federation at least, have rejected attempts 
to link the incidents to ethnic motives.  We do not 
anticipate that the protests will grow significantly or spill 
over into other areas, but recent developments suggest that 
the Sarajevo electorate is growing less willing to accept 
substandard governance.  End Comment. 
ENGLISH